There is unmistakable beauty and history on the grounds of Schwetzingen Castle- and the history is primarily a mythological one. Numerous statues throughout the gardens depict primarily Greek gods and heroes, though scattered examples from other cultures are present. Their faces and poses tell the story of how they were perceived- at least by their creators- in terms of their value to the society of the time of their making. The original castle, built in 1350, gave away nothing of its future splendor; it was merely “a small moated castle”, one of many such edifices throughout Europe at the time. It took the genius of Palatine Prince Elector Carl Theodor (1724-1799) to truly lift Schwetzingen Castle to its stunning present form and bring the Baroque gardens to life- though the addition of two wings in 1697 are credited to Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm.() Four characters from Greek mythology found in Schwetzingen’s gardens are Zeus, Apollo, Athena (the temple is actually dedicated to her Roman counterpart Minerva), and the Sphinx. The statue of Zeus in the gardens at Schwetzingen wears a crown of leaves and is looking sideways and slightly downwards with a powerful gaze; it is a remarkably emotive statue, offering the possibility for many different interpretations of mood and purpose- even varying depending upon the angle at which it is viewed. He seems to be about to pass judgment or wreak havoc upon a mortal or fellow god who has angered him. Yet his mien also describes a pensive, thoughtful tone; perhaps he is thinking about how to fool Agamemnon into attacking the Trojans early: “While gods and mortals slept, Zeus considered how he could best bring honor to Achilles and kill many of the Greeks” (). If the sculptor meant to instill this statue simultaneously with multiple emotions and none, he
